"Never, never, my dear," said Mrs. Skinner.
"Well, I know I _feel_ cross, and I go to God for His medicine. I wish you would go too, Aunt 'Melia."
"I think grannie has gone to Him, and she is happier, I know. He will give it you if you ask Him. His medicine is love, the love He had for us when He gave us the Lord Jesus."
Mrs. Skinner still shook her head, but tears rolled down her thin, faded cheeks.
"I must be going now," she said. "Good-bye, my dear."
"Good-bye. Kiss me, Aunt 'Melia;" and then Bet, who had purposely kept apart, came up with some shells she had gathered for Joy, and said, as she had gone to fetch Aunt Amelia, she would take her home again. So they turned and left Joy, and then Uncle Bobo came down from the seat where he had been watching what passed, and, calling the donkey-boy, he told Joy it was time to be going home.
"What have you been saying to poor Mrs. Skinner?" he asked.
"Not much, dear Uncle Bobo; but, oh, I am so sorry for her, and I wish I could comfort her! I love poor Mrs. Skinner now, indeed I do."
"Love her! Well, bless your little heart, you love everybody, I think."
"Yes, I think I do, and I am so happy, Uncle Bobo. Let us go home now."
Dear little Miss Joy! Who shall say what is the guerdon she and those like her wear?
Truly those that are the maintainers of peace have a blessed heritage; for the golden fruit of righteousness is a glorious harvest for those who make peace. Yes, and for those childlike souls there is quietness and assurance for ever.
[Transcriber's note: the three illustrations between pages 53/54, 103/104, and 157/158 were missing from the source book.]
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Miss Joy, by Emma Marshall